Do you own a 440?

What's your honest opinion of your 440:

How reliable/how often does it need repairs?
What kind of fuel economy does it get?
How comfortable is it to sit in for hours?
Is the air conditioning nice and cold (if you have it)?
What's the acceleration like?

 

I had a two litre 440 for a few years, and I thought it was great. It didn't
go wrong very often, although the speedo was a bit unreliable in the winter.
The air conditioning was pants. It was comfortable to sit in for hours, for
certain, and the adjustable seats meant that I could reach all the controls
and still see out of the windscreen. Acceleration was fine, I got somewhere
around 35mpg I think but I couldn't be sure.

Some years back I test drove a Daewoo, I've forgotten which one. I was so
relieved to get back into my Volvo! Go-cart is how I would describe it, and
I was worried about the gearstick breaking off in my hand!

Got to be said, though, now I have an 850R, and it shows the 440 up in a big
way. The air con is pants again, but who cares, really? I only need it for
two weeks a year. It's a much nicer car to drive all round, you can see
better out of it, it makes no road noise at seventy (the 440 gets quite loud
beyond about sixty). Going round corners and acceleration? Don't make me
laugh.

440s are relatively cheap now, and I think that they can represent good
value for money.

 

What's your honest opinion of your 440:

We've had three, all have lasted well (still have one, the two others were
crashed). Suspension bushings need doing at 80 to 100,000 miles. Other than
that, no regular major repairs except the tailgate struts get weak in the
winter (one offs come to mind, starter motor, auxillary water pump, neither
too expoensive from GSF car parts). They start on the button even in winter.
Never had any rust problems either (although G and H regs are supposed to
suffer). PAS is a good idea, and it got better after the '93 models (L reg /
new shape and on).

Between 37 to 42 mpg, we've had 2 x 1.6 litres and a 1.8 and I'm hardly easy
on them

Very comfortable, long distance cruises are no trouble at all. Factory
fitted stereo's aren't up to much though.

No, the AC is rubbish! Only had it once and it didn't work.

Good, even the 1.6 is adequate. The 1.7 is supposed to be the best, the 1.7
turbo is brilliant. 2 litre is very torquey.

I would, and do, recommend them to anybody. Excellent value for money now.

David

 

Thanks for the reply. You've lost me though - what are G and H regs,
and PAS?

Do you think this was because it needed a service, or did you buy new
and it just never worked?

Thanks again...

Allan

 

Thanks for the reply. You've lost me though - what are G and H regs,

Sorry, I'm in the UK and G and H are the registration marks given to 1990
and 1991 registered cars respectively. I believe Volvo rustproofing improved
significantly from late 1991 onwards.

PAS is an abbreviation for power assisted steering, or power steering as
it's more commonly known. The early shape (pre 1993) 400 series did not have
it as standard and the only one I've driven was too light for my liking. On
my latest, 1995 440 the PAS is good though. My first 400 was a 1993 1.6Li
and didn't have it, it was very heavy to park.

It needed a service, but it was beyond my or my mechanic to do it. Volvo
wanted £600 to sort it out and I just couldn't be bothered - the heater
worked ok.

Hope this helps,

David

 

Oh ok - I didn't think it would need power steering being a smaller
car. What's the turning circle like? I drove a Hyundai a few years
ago, and it's turning circle was pathetic. You had to plan your turns
all the time, because you couldn't get enough spin out of the steering
wheel!

Heh - yeah, they always do - especially in Australia. Air
conditioners on the other hand, never seem to. I bet in places like
Switzerland and Canada the air con works fine. : D

Allan.

 

The turning circle is pretty similar to other front wheel drive cars of that
era. Certainly not as good as my 240 but it wasn't awful.

David

 

Thanks!